Israel rejects claims of violating Lebanese sovereign territory

Lebanon objected Wednesday to the excavation, which began Monday, arguing that at several points it was between 30 and 65 centimeters closer to the pavement on the Lebanese side of the border than originally agreed upon.

BEIRUT: The Israeli army Saturday rejected Lebanese claims that a security fence being erected on the border between the two countries violates Lebanese sovereign territory, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The statement from the Israeli army claiming it did not cross the Blue Line came after Lebanon filed a complaint with United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Friday.

The complaint claims that Israel was crossing over into Lebanese territory during excavations Thursday laying groundwork for the fence.

The Israeli army said the work on the fence was being coordinated with UNIFIL.

Despite Saturday’s claims it had not violated Lebanese sovereign territory, Israel pledged Thursday to correct the violation in the path of the wall after halting construction.

Lebanon objected Wednesday to the excavation, which began Monday, arguing that at several points it was between 30 and 65 centimeters closer to the pavement on the Lebanese side of the border than originally agreed upon.

A security source told The Daily Star that Israel had promised Thursday to place the concrete blocks at the correct location.

The same assurances were made by a senior officer in the International Liaison Committee, who stressed that the wall would not deviate from its path. He said the deviation involved only the excavation process, and not the blocks, but that the issue was resolved.

The Lebanese Army has been closely monitoring the situation with several senior army officers present near the construction site of the 6-meter-high separation wall.

The Jerusalem Post quoted a statement released Monday from the Israeli army’s Spokesman’s Office, who claimed that the barrier is being constructed “in order to improve the security situation in the region and to reduce tension.”

Israel began putting in place several cement blocks Thursday covering a stretch of 100 meters.

The Jewish State aims at finishing construction work before May 15, when demonstrations are held to mark the anniversary of the Nakba, the war in 1948 during which the Palestinians were dispossessed of their homeland.